HC Deb 12 December 1966 vol 738 cc18-9W
Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health which hospitals reserve the right to send away without treatment, except in cases requiring urgent treatment or special facilities, patients who object to being used for teaching purposes; and what action he is taking to draw attention to the undesirability of this practice.

Mr. K. Robinson

I am not aware of any teaching hospital which makes treatment conditional on the patient consenting to be used for teaching purposes.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health if he will draw the attention of hospitals to the need to explain in their official booklets patients' rights to refuse to be used for teaching purposes.

Mr. K. Robinson

The purpose of the leaflets is to explain the teaching activities and to seek the co-operation of patients in the teaching of medical students, and I have no reason to believe that any amendment is necessary.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals exempt particular categories of National Health Service patients, such as doctors' wives and nurses, from being used as hospital teaching material.

Mr. K. Robinson

None to my knowledge, but I am making inquiries into a particular incident that has recently been brought to my attention.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals use patients as teaching material in lecture rooms; what is the average number of students present; in how many hospitals are patients consulted beforehand; what alternative treatment is offered to patients who do not wish to co-operate in this form of teaching; and what modifications of the usual procedure are made in gynaecological cases.

Mr. K. Robinson

I regret that information in this form is not available. I expect all patients who co-operate in teaching in lecture rooms to be consulted beforehand.